Israel begins exporting natural gas to Egypt in what is expected to be a multibillion-dollar deal; This comes just weeks after Israel’s Leviathan oil field began producing natural gas; Steinitz: a historic milestone for the State of Israel.

On Wednesday, Israel began sending natural gas directly to Egypt in a highly anticipated deal that is expected to be worth tens of billions of dollars (close to $20 billion). This comes just weeks after Israel’s Leviathan oil field began to produce gas. Like Jordan, Egypt, who was once an ardent enemy of Israel, is now a primary customer.

Egypt & Israel released a joint statement on Wednesday calling the gas deal “an important development that will serve the economic interests of both sides… The step will both enable Israel to export some of its natural gas to the region via Egypt’s gas liquefaction plants, and promote Egypt’s status as a regional gas hub.” Israeli Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz called the deal “a historic milestone for the State of Israel.”

Israel is becoming more of an economic powerhouse in the Middle East every day. Not only do they have multiple significant oil fields on the Mediterranean coast that allow them to supply oil directly to all of their domestic consumers, but they are now exporting oil to Egypt & Jordan. On top of that, they just signed another economically significant deal with Greece and Cyprus that will allow them to send gas to southern Europe via an underwater pipeline called the EastMed Pipeline.

This unprecedented economic boost that Israel and its allies are enjoying the benefits of is not going unnoticed by those who oppose them. The EastMed pipeline is dealing a huge blow to Russia’s oil market and it’s bypassing Turkey’s determination to control oil that can be found in Cyprian waters. Russia and Turkey’s respective economies are struggling, make no mistake about it. When the Ezekiel invasion happens, their motive is stated to be economic in nature. Those protesting, but not acting on Israel’s behalf, could very possibly be the nations that are benefiting from their friendship with Israel, and they see those benefits (i.e. direct supply on natural gas) at stake.

As Israel continues to blossom economically, are we witnessing the hook of Ezekiel 38 being set in the jaw of Gog?

Ezekiel 38:1-10
Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him, and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal. I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out, with all your army, horses, and horsemen, all splendidly clothed, a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords. Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; Gomer and all its troops; the house of Togarmah from the far north and all its troops—many people are with you. Prepare yourself and be ready, you and all your companies that are gathered about you; and be a guard for them. After many days you will be visited. In the latter years you will come into the land of those brought back from the sword and gathered from many people on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate; they were brought out of the nations, and now all of them dwell safely. You will ascend, coming like a storm, covering the land like a cloud, you and all your troops and many peoples with you.”‘Thus says the Lord God: “On that day it shall come to pass that thoughts will arise in your mind, and you will make an evil plan: You will say, ‘I will go up against a land of unwalled villages; I will go to a peaceful people, who dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates’— to take plunder and to take booty, to stretch out your hand against the waste places that are again inhabited, and against a people gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, who dwell in the midst of the land. Sheba, Dedan, the merchants of Tarshish, and all their young lions will say to you, ‘Have you come to take plunder? Have you gathered your army to take booty, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to take great plunder?’ ” ’